diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
index 40f73f7ff..0fc052b77 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class I18nModule(ExtensionModule):
         outputs = mesonlib.substitute_values([output], values)
         output = outputs[0]
 
-        ct = build.CustomTarget(output + '_merge', state.subdir, state.subproject, kwargs)
+        ct = build.CustomTarget(output + '_' + state.subdir + '_merge', state.subdir, state.subproject, kwargs)
         return ModuleReturnValue(ct, [ct])
 
     @FeatureNewKwargs('i18n.gettext', '0.37.0', ['preset'])
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/data2/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/data2/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d927ba3af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/data2/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+i18n.merge_file(
+  input: 'test.desktop.in',
+  output: 'test.desktop',
+  type: 'desktop',
+  po_dir: '../po',
+  install: true,
+  install_dir: join_paths(get_option('datadir'), 'applications')
+)
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/data2/test.desktop.in b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/data2/test.desktop.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..33b9a9fd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/data2/test.desktop.in	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=Test
+GenericName=Application
+Comment=Test Application
+Type=Application
+
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/meson.build
index e02234b56..9b8485606 100644
--- a/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/meson.build	
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ i18n = import('i18n')
 subdir('po')
 subdir('src')
 subdir('data')
+subdir('data2')